Four more arrests over Reyhanlı blasts, four other suspects still sought

HATAY – Anatolia News Agency

Around 1,500 people gathered near the bombing site in Reyhanlı town center, chanting slogans and demanding the government’s resignation. Police used tear gas to quell the protesters. DHA photo

Four more suspects have been detained in connection with the twin bomb attacks in Hatay’s Reyhanlı district on the Syrian border, which killed 52 . 

The new detentions bring the number of suspects taken into custody to 17, Hatay Gov. Celalletin Lekesiz has said today. Seven of the 12 suspects referred to court have been arrested, other four are still sought, Lekesiz added. 

Hatay governor had announced May 17 that security forces had detained the prime suspect in the bombings, identified as M.G. Reyhanlı’s district police chief had also been dismissed, he had said. 

Meanwhile, Reyhanlı police intervened May 18 with tear gas in a group of 1,500 people that gathered to protest the May 11 bombings. Main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Hatay deputy Hasan Akgöl was also among the demonstrators.